Kate Thwaites
Jagajaga · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. How has the Albanese Labor government acted to strengthen Australia's fuel security and shield Australians from the impacts of the conflict in the Middle East? What policies would leave Australians more vulnerable?”
“The Albanese government is committed to ending violence against women and children. Within this portfolio, support for victims of gender-based violence who have to interact with the courts and the justice system is particularly important.”
“This completes the national rollout of these services and builds on announcements of the establishment of new pilots across New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Northern Territory and Tasmania and the extension and expansion of existing pilots in the ACT and WA.”
“This will be very important for those people who are facing courts and justice systems as part of their process. I note this funding is in addition to approximately $2.5 million per annum ongoing funding provided to support solutions for domestic and gender-based violence.”
“In this book, Heather shares her experience of advocating for Eddie's education, for his inclusion and for his place in the wider community. The book was cowritten with Meryka Alexander, who has also been part of the Hebbard family for more than 25 years as Eddie's teacher, advocate, adviser and trusted supporter.”
“I really want to congratulate Eddie. I want to especially congratulate Heather for the success of Educating Eddie and for the effort they have made to share his story. I wish them all the very best for the future.”
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“First Nations families live alongside families who have been in Australia for generations, who live alongside families who have come here more recently to build a life, to raise their children and to contribute to our country. There are many Muslims in my electorate, including a strong Somali Australian community who I'm so proud to represent here in this place. When I drop my kids off at school in the morning, I join with Somali parents, with Indian parents, with Iranian parents and others. Our kids are learning together. They are playing together at school all day. Across our community, people from different backgrounds are volunteering at our sporting clubs and our local organisations. They are working. They are building small businesses. They are our nurses, our students and our neighbours. This is a great strength of our country.”
“All of us in this place have a responsibility to use our words wisely—not for clickbait, not to generate outrage through algorithms and especially not to leave members of our communities feeling vulnerable and open to attack. It is in this light that I highlight the concern within my community around Senator Hanson's recent comments suggesting there are no good Muslims. The Senate has, rightly, censured her for this, because language like this does real damage to people in our communities, to our very sense of these communities and, in fact, to our country. In my electorate in Melbourne's north-east, people from different backgrounds live side by side.”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. How has the Albanese Labor government been delivering on its commitment to build Australia's future, invest in our people and deliver real, lasting cost-of-living relief? What are the risks?”
“These people deserve retirement outcomes that rely on consistent policy settings that support them fairly over time. These reforms will reinforce their confidence that the superannuation system works for everyone and not just for the fortunate few. I do want to briefly mention that, of course, in bringing these reforms forward the government has consulted widely. We understand that they are changes that will affect people. This is evidence based policymaking, and we thank everyone who's been involved in the consultation to help us get to this point of careful design where we are strengthening retirement outcomes for low-income workers and building a sustainable super system that will deliver for Australians now and into the future.”
“Superannuation was built by Labor to ensure that Australians have security and dignity in retirement, and it has absolutely served our country well. I know there are many countries around the world that look to copy the Australian system because they have seen the effect it has had for us as a country and for individuals in this country as well. It is our responsibility to make sure that system remains fair and remains something that is supporting all Australians to retire with security and dignity. The people who benefit from these reforms are working Australians—people who work in our shops, the people who are our carers and our administrative staff and, of course, the young people to come and who are just now starting their working lives.”
“The work we are doing to drive down the gender pay gap—and I note that, while it is too high, it is heading in the right direction, and that is a direct result of the focus that this government brings to improving the conditions for working Australian women, to improving their wages in industries like aged care and also to improving the security and the dignity they can look forward to when they come to retirement age. We are recognising that the work they are doing in our communities is vital and deserves to be supported into the future. I am particularly pleased to see this reform as part of the broader work that the government is doing to strengthen our superannuation system and to make sure it is fit for purpose. This is the work that Labor governments do.”
“I am particularly passionate about this reform in terms of what it will mean for women who are retiring and for the women who are working in aged care and in child care, who do, over their lifetimes, earn lower average wages, who take time out of the workforce to care for children or family members or who may be working part time more often. I know that this benefit will very much strengthen their retirement outcomes and their retirement security. Of course, it comes along as part of a suite of changes that we have made as a government to support working women including putting superannuation on paid parental leave, acknowledging that this very important payment is something that, just like any other workplace entitlement, deserves to receive superannuation.”
“I have had a number of people raise this issue with me, particularly those who are advocating on behalf of Australian women, because it is often Australian women who, as the latest gender pay gap data shows us, are earning less and are more likely to be in a position where they are retiring into a more uncertain outcome. So, for those people, this change is going to mean they are looking at a fairer superannuation system. Again, we're putting in place those principles of having a system that supports people who work hard, who want security and who are looking for dignity in retirement. It's not special treatment; it is about making sure that we are equitable in how we are treating our system and how we are supporting working Australians into the future.”
“The low income superannuation tax offset, or LISTO, which means that low-income workers who often pay tax on their super contributions, even when they pay little or no income tax—without the LISTO provision, the system would effectively penalise people on lower incomes for saving for retirement. What we are doing here is correcting that imbalance. We will lift the LISTO eligibility threshold to align it with broader income tax settings and also increase the maximum payment to reflect the rise of the superannuation guarantee to 12 per cent. These are thresholds that haven't kept pace with broader tax changes, and they have meant that many low-income earners have missed out on support that they should rightly receive.”
“What this reform does is make sure that those with extremely large balances are not receiving a tax treatment that is far more generous than what was intended when the superannuation system was created. It strengthens the sustainability of our superannuation system so that it can continue supporting Australians for decades to come. This is the work that Labor governments do, and it is the purpose that we bring to this place, not just to protect the dignity and security of Australians who are retiring now but to protect those to come. This is part of a broader set of reforms that the government is bringing, and I want to talk about some of those other reforms, which are really about lifting outcomes for those who, traditionally, have been at the bottom end of our super system.”
“Earnings on balances between $3 million and $10 million will be taxed at up to 30 per cent, and earnings on balances above $10 million will be taxed at up to 40 per cent. Both thresholds will be indexed to inflation to maintain fairness over time. It's important to be clear about what this means. These changes affect fewer than 0.5 per cent of Australians with superannuation accounts. The highest rate applies to fewer than 0.1 per cent. So, for the overwhelming majority of Australians, for the millions of workers out there who are working and saving for their retirement, nothing will change. Their concessions remain intact. Their retirement savings remain supported.”
“I have heard from people in my electorate who have very comfortable superannuation balances but say to me: 'We want to see a fairer future for all Australians. We want all Australians to be assured dignity in retirement.' At the moment, around 38 per cent of super earnings concessions go to the top 10 per cent of income earners, and more than half go to the top 20 per cent. That is not consistent with the purpose of superannuation I outlined at the start of this speech. Schedules one to three of this bill implement modest, carefully designed changes to ensure concessions remain fair while preserving incentives for Australians to save. From the 2026-27 income year, earnings on superannuation balances below $3 million will continue to be taxed at up to 15 per cent, exactly as they are today.”
“I pay tribute to the number of women who have spoken to me about this inequity and who have campaigned for reform in this space, and I'm pleased that this Labor government is bringing this forward. Superannuation tax concessions represent one of the largest investments governments make in Australians' future wellbeing. These concessions now cost the budget more than $60 billion each year, and without reform they are projected to exceed the cost of the age pension in the decades ahead. That means that we have a responsibility not just to today's taxpayers but to our future generations to ensure that these concessions are properly targeted. At present, a disproportionate share of superannuation tax benefits flow to individuals with very large balances, and go well beyond what's required to fund a comfortable retirement.”
“It was designed to support working Australians—cleaners, nurses, teachers, retail workers, tradies, carers—to ensure that older Australians could look forward to retirement with dignity and security. This bill strengthens that original purpose. It ensures that our superannuation system remains fair, sustainable and focused on delivering income in retirement, alongside government support, in an equitable way. It is important to look at the complete picture of what the government is doing to reform superannuation in Australia, first by better targeting superannuation tax concessions so that they do remain sustainable and fair, and second by strengthening retirement outcomes for low-income Australians, particularly women, who have historically retired with less superannuation and less security.”
“The Treasury Laws Amendment (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Bill 2026 is important legislation because goes to the heart of what sort of superannuation system we want in Australia and what superannuation means for Australians both now and for future generations. Superannuation is absolutely one of the great achievements of the Australian Labor movement. It is a reform that has been grounded in fairness, in dignity and in opportunity. It was built on a simple but powerful idea that, after a lifetime of work, Australians should be able to retire with security, independence and dignity, not with uncertainty. As superannuation was built, it was never intended to be a vehicle for unlimited tax advantages.”
“I want to wish him every success and fulfilment as he begins the next stage of his work in service to the community. I know that his contribution in our community isn't done, but we will miss having him in this particular role at Holstep Health. I will miss walking into the building and seeing him, but I look forward to seeing what he achieves next and to continuing to work together for good outcomes for our community in the north-east of Melbourne.”
“I know him as a leader of integrity, humility and compassion, with a genuine care for people and communities at the heart of everything he does. His advocacy for the 3081 community has made a lasting difference, and I know his impact will continue to be felt. You only had to walk into the Banyule Community Health building in Heidelberg West to see how Mick was greeted by everyone, how Mick knew everyone and how he knew what was going. He took time and care to invest in people's individual issues and concerns as well as community issues and concerns. Mick has been a valued colleague and a friend to me, to my predecessor in this House and, I know, to my state colleagues. I do want to thank him for his extraordinary contribution.”
“After many years of dedicated service, Mick Geary is farewelling his role as Executive Director of Strategy and Impact at Holstep Health as he takes up a new role with Anglicare Victoria. Mick began his journey with Banyule Community Health, which is now Holstep Health. He began working in youth homelessness before progressing into senior leadership and serving as the CEO for eight years. Throughout this time, Mick's leadership, his vision and his steady stewardship have been instrumental. He had a pivotal role in guiding the successful merger with Merri Health to secure a stronger future for our local community health services, and I congratulate him and all involved on that. Mick's connections to our community health service and to the people it serves run deep.”
“I also want to acknowledge the many people in Jagajaga whose contributions do not come with formal recognition but are very important. We have people who are volunteering and people who through their vocations help to strengthen the fabric of our community every day. I am looking forward to recognising many more of these efforts at my annual Jagajaga Volunteer Awards in March. I also support broader efforts for us to continue to make sure women are represented in our national awards as well, and I am hoping to increase the number of women in Jagajaga who are recognised every year. I also take this opportunity to recognise an extraordinary community leader who's contributed so much in Jagajaga, particularly to the Heidelberg West and 3081 community.”
“Jeffrey Borland AO has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his distinguished service to business as a labour market economist, to tertiary education, to microeconomic research and to public policy development. Ann Congleton PSM has been awarded the Public Service Medal for outstanding public service in policy and service design, corporate resources management and operational service delivery. I had the pleasure of working with Ann at what was then the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, and I know firsthand the care she has for our communities and people who need support. Our congratulations to all our recipients. Your commitment, leadership and service are inspiring, and your work does make a real difference to our community and to our country.”
“My community of Jagajaga is home to some truly remarkable people. It is a place shaped by volunteers, health professionals, educators, advocates and community leaders. These are people who quietly and consistently give their time and expertise to make life better for others. Each year our community is proud to see locals from Jagajaga recognised in the Australia Day Honours, and it's a privilege to acknowledge these individuals in this parliament. They do deserve to be recognised nationally. This year, Marcus Wigan AM has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his significant service to engineering, road safety and tertiary education. Marcus is someone I interact with frequently who takes a strong interest in policy, and I always appreciate our discussions.”
“It is a reminder of devastation, but it is also a reminder of the strength of community. It reminds us of neighbours helping neighbours, of towns rallying together and of the volunteers who drove into danger when others were fleeing. I once again thank our local SES, CFA and FRV crews who not only supported our community that day but continue to support us in the most difficult times and who deserve our deepest thanks. We honour all of those affected, not only with our words but with how we plan for the future. Debate adjourned.”
“We have, just this past summer, in Victoria again faced severe heatwaves, faced dangerous fire risks and faced dangerous fires, and I have no doubt that these ratings and these warnings have provided clarity and saved lives. I do hope for all the people who still carry the effect of Black Saturday that that is some comfort—that, as a result of what happened on that day, the Victorian government and governments around the country took note and said, 'We do need to be very serious and very methodical about how we look at this disaster, how we understand the lessons, how we honour the legacies of those who lost their lives and how we prepare for the future.' As we do look to a future where we will experience more frequent and severe weather events, we will continue to recognise Black Saturday as a catalyst for change.”
“In all of that, we are having to change the way that we think about climate, the way we think about weather and the way that fires now hit our communities as a result of our climate being warmer and our landscape being drier. The royal commission into the Black Saturday bushfires made it clear that what happened was a warning of what could happen again if we didn't take that seriously. It gave us a new 'catastrophic' fire danger rating, and agencies across Australia came together to build a new Australian fire danger rating system. Emergency services across Australia built the Australian Warning System, for the first time creating nationally consistent public information for fires, floods, storms, cyclones and severe heat.”
“The events of Black Saturday have fundamentally changed the way we understand bushfire risk in Australia. We have in fact changed the way we talk about emergency management and the way we build, plan and prepare. As someone who, in an earlier life, was a journalist who spent some time training with our CFA crews and who has spent some time on the front line of firefighting, I can say that the messages that went out prior to Black Saturday were very different to the messages that go out to communities now. We have as a result of that terrible disaster entirely changed the way that we tell communities to prepare and that we tell people to make sure that they are safe.”
“In my community of Jagajaga, many families have direct links to the communities that were devastated—Kinglake, Marysville, Strathewen, St Andrews and beyond. Many people locally were in the CFA crews and the emergency services who were on the front line that day. Some lost loved ones, some lost homes, and some lost the places that of course have shaped who they were. As I said, many are still carrying that trauma today. Today, to the survivors, the families of those who died, the firefighters, the emergency workers, the volunteers and the community members who stood in the face of that unimaginable danger: we as a parliament honour you. We remember not only what was lost but the courage that you showed and what has emerged from the ashes.”
“This is an important motion, and it is important that we commemorate one of the darkest days in our state of Victoria. Black Saturday was a day of terror. It was a day when too many lives were lost. It was a day that many people still deal with the consequences of. It was something that has changed forever how we look at bushfires not just in Victoria but right around this country. On Black Saturday, 173 lives were lost and more than 2,000 homes were destroyed. Whole communities and towns were changed forever. People, families, neighbours, communities and lives were torn apart in a matter of hours. For those of us in Victoria, especially across Melbourne's north and north-east, Black Saturday is still not something that we remember at a distance. It is something that we vividly hold and that many people still carry.”
“Young people should not be locked out of higher education because of who they are or where they come from, and these bills help us to make sure that that is the Australia of the future.”
“These bills are about the future of higher education and about the kind of nation we want to be. They're about backing our students, strengthening our universities and investing in the communities that rely on them. These bills do recognise that education is not just a personal opportunity but a national asset, one that underpins our economy, our workforce and our social cohesion. We are getting on with the job by establishing the Australian Tertiary Education Commission, implementing the recommendations of the universities accord and placing students back at the centre of our system, where they should be. We are building a system that is fairer, more sustainable and fit for the future. Our government's clear message is this: in Australia, opportunities should be earned by effort, not determined by background, postcode or family income.”
“It would be remiss of me to say that those opposite share this government's view of a future for young people in that way. Their record shows that they did not back our universities. They did not back opportunity. They've said that students should just pay their debts. They've called our plan elitist. They cut funding to education institutions, and they undermined equity. It was clear over the decade that those opposite were in power that they see education as a cost, whereas we on this side, Labor, see education as an investment. They have opposed opportunity; we have defended it and are trying to enhance it. Our government will always choose fairness, opportunity and young people in our community and their future, and that is what these bills are about.”
“This is a continuing conversation about how we make sure young people in our communities can aspire to a good life and the stability and aspiration of knowing that there are good jobs ahead of them, knowing that they can look at secure homeownership and knowing that they can play an important part in our communities going forward. This bill does a lot more than just set up a body to look at our higher education system. This bill makes sure that we are getting the foundations right for young people to have those opportunities—to feel like they have a government that understands and cares how important it is for them to have that sense of opportunity, that sense of community and the sense of a government and a community that wants them to have good lives.”
“It can help open the doors to homeownership. It can help people feel like they have a stable and prosperous future ahead of them. So I was very proud to see our government cut 20 per cent off all student debt, including for nearly 23,000 people in my electorate of Jagajaga. I was proud to see us make free TAFE permanent, making a real difference for students at our local Greensborough and West Heidelberg Melbourne Polytechnic campuses and right across the country. For students in my community, this means no or lower repayments, less financial stress and a real chance to save for a home, start a family or invest in the future. I have had this conversation; I do hear this time and time again from people in my community of all generations. It is something that parents, grandparents and young people are talking to me about.”
“And, as I said, the ATEC will also provide advice to government on policy settings and strategic direction, making sure that we are getting that joined-up picture. It will publish a state-of-the-tertiary-education-system report tracking performance, identifying challenges and setting out opportunities for future reform. I also acknowledge that this is not a one-and-done situation; there is more work for us to do to make sure that our higher education system is meeting the needs of students and allowing students to get the skills and qualifications they need now and into the future. The conversations I have about higher education in my community are about learning, about jobs and about opportunities for the future. People in my community are really aware that higher education is also the pathway to a more secure life.”
“For institutions like the University of Melbourne, with its global research leadership, it will mean support to continue driving innovation, medical breakthroughs and economic growth for the nation. This is not about forcing universities into a single mould. It is about building a diverse, collaborative system that reflects our communities and our workforce needs now and into the future. The ATEC will implement a new funding model that is fairer and more targeted. It will provide demand driven places for equity students at a system level and needs-based funding based on the number of low-SES students, First Nations students and regional campus students. This is how we close participation gaps and how we lift completion rates. It is how we ensure that talent, not background, determines success.”
“These bills establish ATEC as an independent statutory authority to help deliver the future tertiary system Australia needs—one that is equitable, joined up, responsive to skills needs and focused on student support. It will help us reach the 80 per cent attainment target by encouraging diversity, providing expert evidence based advice to governments, monitoring skills and equity targets and, as I said, helping to deliver a joined-up tertiary system that brings higher education and vocational education together. This is a critical service that I think will improve our universities. Locally, I know that for universities like La Trobe University in my community, with its strong focus on health education, regional outreach and first-in-family students, this will mean recognition of the vital community role it plays.”
“That opportunity should not be linked to how much the family you come from earns. At the heart of the universities accord is the idea that Australia does need a national steward of tertiary education. We have had a fragmented system for too long. Our universities, our TAFEs and our regulators have operated in silos. For the world that I've described—a world where we will need more people with skills, where people will need to upskill throughout their working life—that sort of system no longer serves us well. Students have faced confusing pathways, inconsistent funding and uneven support, so the accord recommended the creation of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission to bring strategy, coordination and long-term planning to the system.”
“Locally, I've been really pleased to see this being accelerated by our $50 million investment to establish a TAFE centre of excellence for housing construction at Melbourne Polytechnic in Heidelberg West, supporting local jobs, addressing skills shortages and helping to deliver the homes our community needs. I and my community see how these reforms are already playing out, already making a difference and already opening doors for students who once felt locked out of the opportunity of higher education, giving people the confidence to invest in themselves, helping us as a country to make sure that we have the workforce we need for the future and helping to make sure that we sustain what is so important in our country—that opportunity that comes with education.”
“We've made demand driven, Commonwealth supported places available to all First Nations students who meet entry requirements, and we've established the National Student Ombudsman and a national code to prevent and respond to gender based violence, ensuring campuses are safe and respectful environments. We have also done a lot of work to make HECS better and fairer. Again, I know this has been felt in my community. We have cut 20 per cent off all student debts. We have capped indexation to the lower of CPI or WPI, lifted the minimum repayment threshold and moved to a marginal repayment system. On top of all of these recommendations, we've made free TAFE permanent, ensuring people in our communities can skill up for the jobs of the future.”
“We have introduced paid prac for the first time for teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work students so that people are not having to choose between paying their rent and completing their degree. Again, I have heard from my community how important this reform has been for so many people, particularly women, who often are studying to be part of these caring professions and who, in fact, find themselves being economically disadvantaged by taking up a profession that all of us rely on. That has been a very important reform—to have paid prac. We've required higher education providers to direct at least 40 per cent of student services and amenities fees to student led organisations.”
“We have implemented 31 of the 47 recommendations of the universities accord, in part or in full. We have already doubled the number of university study hubs, with 20 new regional hubs and 14 new suburban hubs. This brings higher education closer to students who cannot easily relocate or commute. We do have one established in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, in Epping, not far from my electorate. Again, the idea is that we are spreading the benefits of higher education, making it accessible to people who otherwise would not be able to reach these places to study. We've expanded free university bridging courses, opening the door for people who may not have had the chance to go straight from school to university.”
“That means more Australians, not fewer, will need access to TAFE and to university. It means that more people will need the chance to retrain, reskill and upskill throughout their working lives, and it means that, if we do nothing, skills shortages will grow, inequality will widen and economic growth will stall. These are things that I have conversations about over and over again with people in my electorate, with grandparents and parents who are looking at their children and thinking about what their future will be, who want to see that those young people do have the opportunities that a good education provided them and who want to know that the industries and jobs we need for the future will have the workers that should be there. These are very important reforms, and that's why our government has not waited.”
“After a decade of those opposite—who really had no plan for higher education and who certainly had no plan for how students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds would access higher education—we knew that we needed a systemic look at how this system operated, so we commissioned and we released the final report of the Australian Universities Accord. We need to be very clear that this is not a short-term fix. It's not just political slogans. This is a long-term national plan for the next decade and, indeed, for the decade after that. The accord we received tells us something stark and unavoidable, which is that the jobs of the future will require more skills. It tells us that, over the coming decades, about 80 per cent of jobs will require a certificate, diploma or degree.”
“The universities accord, which our government developed, is a blueprint for a stronger and fairer Australia, and these bills that we have before us—the Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025 and the Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025—give that blueprint a permanent institutional foundation. They establish the Australian Tertiary Education Commission as a steward of our tertiary system—a body that will ensure our system is fair, coordinated, forward looking and focused on people, not just providers. As I mentioned, our government commissioned the universities accord because we knew that the higher education system really is the bedrock of so much in our country, but it needed help.”
“Cost-of-living pressures, rising rents, insecure work and student debt make university feel like a risk instead of the opportunity that it can be, and that is why these reforms matter. Labor understands that tertiary education is not a luxury. It is nation-building infrastructure. Labor understands that investing in skills today is how we secure prosperity tomorrow. Labor understands that education changes not just individual lives but whole communities.”
“This debate goes to the very heart of what kind of country we want to be. It's not just a conversation about universities, about commissions or, indeed, about funding models. It is a conversation about opportunity, about fairness and about the future of young people in our communities. For generations, education has been an important driver of social mobility in Australia. It is how children from families across the country become doctors, teachers, engineers, scientists, nurses, social workers and leaders. It strengthens our community, it helps our economy grow, and it makes sure that we have people working in the industries that we need. Despite its importance, our government is very aware that, for too many Australians, higher education does still feel out of reach.”
“We did not have the discounts that we've made on PBS scripts, because those opposite do not understand that part of being Australian is having access to good quality health care.”
“They can refer you to the right care—whether that is back to your regular GP, a local hospital or a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic. We've made major changes to bulk-billing, tripling the incentives for GPs to bulk-bill. Again, I get a lot of feedback about this in our community. I'm pleased to see that the Greensborough Medical and Dental Clinic on Flintoff Street is now 100 per cent bulk-billing for GP visits. I know other clinics in my community are following suit. Again, this is making a real difference to people's lives. But these are the investments that only happen under Labor governments. Under those opposite, bulk-billing was in free fall. We did not have walk-in Medicare urgent care clinics.”
“This is real cost-of-living relief, and it means people are able to access these prescriptions without worrying about what trade-offs they're making in their lives. We do not want to see people going without medicines they should have and the medicines they need to have because they are needing to make choices about what they pay for. That is, again, a fundamental tenet of this government; it is what we believe in. We believe that access to these medications, to this health care, should be for all Australians, not just for some. We've introduced 1800MEDICARE, where locals can now access free 24/7 health advice from registered nurses. So whether you need expert guidance or simple reassurance, the nurses at 1800MEDICARE are available around the clock.”
“At the Eltham clinic, Sharrine shared that, after finding all the GP appointments fully booked, she was feeling overwhelmed and on the verge of tears. She was able to meet with a staff member there, Allison, who took the time to listen, who treated her with care and understanding and who went out of her way to help. It's that approach that means people are getting both the empathy and the care they need. It's a testament to the value we put on Medicare. Outside of Medicare clinics, we are delivering cheaper medicines for people in our community. We have reduced the maximum cost of PBS prescriptions to $25, and to $7.70 for concession cardholders. In Jagajaga locals have now saved more than $15.4 million from 1.7 million cheaper prescriptions.”
“This clinic is providing all those people and others with support and care they never had before, and it is providing it because this Albanese Labor government believes in Medicare, because we are funding Medicare in our communities. One local, Riana, shared her experience with me, saying she went to the clinic when her daughter was in severe pain. She described the staff there as welcoming and compassionate, and the doctor as knowledgeable, and said the care helped to ease her daughter's pain. For her, the relief was finding the clinic, not having to wait as long and having that peace of mind almost immediately. On that note, I acknowledge the incredible doctors and nurses who keep these clinics running and who are part of our Medicare system. I've had wonderful feedback about the people who work in these clinics.”